Barcelona hosts 17th edition of 48h Open House festival

The 17th edition of the 48h Open House Barcelona festival takes place on October 24 and 25, offering free access to architectural spaces typically closed to the public. This year’s theme, ‘Life without architecture’, explores how built environments shape human interaction and daily living.

The festival features 217 visitable spaces across the Barcelona metropolitan area, including Badalona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, and Sitges. Barcelona itself hosts 155 of these locations. Highlights include the presidential suite at the Hotel Arts, the industrial heritage of the Fabra i Coats complex in Sant Andreu, and the modernist Casa Sayrach.

Visitors can explore diverse sites ranging from historic convents and rationalist housing like Casa Bloc to contemporary urban projects. To manage crowds, organizers have provided a real-time map to monitor high-demand buildings, though some specific itineraries may require advance registration.